Through a variety of programs - for high school and college leaders to first-time political candidates and influential business and community leaders - the Sorensen Institute has established itself as a powerful and effective force for restoring public confidence in our political system. At the heart of every Sorensen program are three central themes: ethics in public service, the power of bipartisanship, and a concentrated study of public policy issues.
Meet the esteemed alumni who completed our program and continued on to improve their communities.

Our leadership development programs focus on Virginia residents interested in becoming active in public service.

Know someone who would be a good candidate for a Sorensen program? Tell us about them!

This award will be presented annually to the individuals who model the spirit and mission of Sorensen through the trust, civility and respect they have consistently shown toward others. They create sustainable efforts toward the betterment of a more decent and tolerant civic life and culture for the people of the Commonwealth.
PLP 2019 Profile: Evelyn Spain
Name: Evelyn Spain
Birthplace and/or where you grew up: I was born on in Meadow Long Island and grew up in the famous town of Amityville.
Where do you currently call home? Presently I reside in a Centreville, Virginia
Occupation: I am a Program Manager
PLP 2019 Profile: Scott Castro
Name: Scott Castro
Birthplace and/or where you grew up: Marylander by birth, Virginian by choice
Where do you currently call home? Richmond, VA
Occupation: Policy Analyst at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
HSLP 2019: Day 15
Reported by Alex Hubbard, Atlee High School, and Safiya Khan, Dominion High School
HSLP 2019: Day 14
Reported by: Tyler Hoppe, Atlee High School and Lola LaPier, Princess Anne High School
HSLP 2019: Day 13
Reported by: Jordan Laster, Norfolk Collegiate School and Grecia Hernandez, William Byrd High School
HSLP 2019: Day 12
Reported by: Ella Hayes, Salem High School, Noah Lau, Fredericksburg Academy, and Rohan Jain, Marshall High School
Check out the Sorensen political links page to discover new insights into politics in Virginia. We seek out new informational resources and frequently update the page with new links so bookmark it for later (or set it as your homepage if you like).